Find yourself in a reinsurance company you believe in

Nominated for Intelligent Insurer’s LEADERS Under 40 2024, Gavin Brennan is a senior vice president of BMS whose career path started in reinsurance completely by chance.

Reflecting on his falling into the industry, Brennan said: “It was all thanks to a very random connection throughout life and a timely conversation that my mother had while I was a senior in college with a family friend and former babysitter who was at the time working in the reinsurance brokerage sector.”

He started working at Willis Re in 2010, had a stint at Marsh & McLellan, then joined BMS in 2010 as a technical broker.

Challenges and triumphs

Brennan faced challenges early in his career, he recalled. “I never studied insurance in college, especially reinsurance, so it was a unique learning curve to start.”

“Adjusting to the niche area of reinsurance was difficult, but I persevered and now I encourage others to do so,” he said.

“The overarching pillar of insurance is that it’s about relationships with people.” Gavin Brennan, BMS

“It may take a year or two, but when it does click and you finally understand it all, it’s going to be something special,” he advised.

In late 2023 Brennan’s mother suffered a stroke and passed away shortly after. During this period, he was dealing with complex reinsurance placements and programme moves.

“It made for a lot of mental obstacles to cover,” he said, but he highlighted the support received from colleagues and the value of prioritising personal and professional aspects of life despite the challenges.

Rewards and excitements

Brennan’s enthusiasm for the reinsurance sector has grown over the years, and he described what he called the “unique aspects” of the industry, saying: “The vast majority of what we do revolves around external relationships.”

The dynamic nature of the industry, with its focus on emerging risks, excites him. “There will always be the involvement of the re/insurance industry to help deal with new risks, but the overarching thing with insurance is that it’s about relationships with people and building them internally and externally.

“That’s what I love about it,” he added.

Leadership and mentoring

Brennan credited several mentors for their positive influence on his career. He mentioned Andrew Bustillo, former CEO of BMS; Jack Hickey, branch manager of BMS New York City; and Pete Chandler, vice chairman of BMS, stating: “I’ve been very lucky to work for different leaders and see how they do things.”

Each of these leaders had a distinct style, Brennan noted.

“Great leaders command the respect of the people who work for them, but also have a real human side and understanding.

“The key thing for me is finding myself in a company that I believe in and working with a team of mentors and people who I believe in and trust.”

What the future holds

Looking ahead, Brennan is committed to his current company, BMS, where he has been for over a decade.

“I enjoy this company, and the team within the company I work for,” he enthused.

His goal is to continue contributing to BMS’s growth, guided by the firm’s global leadership, but he acknowledged the potential for exploring different areas within the industry, given his extensive experience.

“My career path could go a lot of different ways, but I consider myself a lifer at BMS and look forward to the continued growth and success of our clients and firm,” he observed.

“Good things happen to good people in the re/insurance industry, provided they are willing to learn, adapt, and build meaningful connections,” he concluded.

Watch the full video interview here: